Fabrication and durable antibacterial properties of electrospun chitosan nanofibers with silver nanoparticles

Non-precipitation chitosan/silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in 1% acetic acid aqueous solution was prepared from chitosan colloidal gel with various contents of silver nitrate via electron beam irradiation (EBI). Electrospun chitosan-based nanofibers decorated with AgNPs were successfully performed by blending poly(vinyl alcohol). The morphology of as-prepared nanofibers and the size of AgNPs in the nanofibers were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The presence of AgNPs in as-obtained nanofibers was also confirmed by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, EDX spectrum and metal mapping. Silver ion release behavior indicated that these hybrid nanofibers continually release adequate silver to exhibit antibacterial activity over 16 days. These biocomposite nanofibers showed pronounced antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli).